COSTLY: Calving problems can contribute to heavy production losses.
Calving difficulties, dystocia, contribute heavily to production losses with 50 to 60 per cent of calf losses due to difficult calving.
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Less noticeable losses due to calving difficulties include delayed return to heat after birth, poor conception rates, and increased labour, veterinary and medicine costs.
Many calving difficulties can be avoided by doing the following:
- Mate heifers and small cows to easy-calving bulls. If available, the bull’s Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) will provide a useful guide.
- Ensure that heifers have reached their critical joining weight, join heifers for a maximum of six weeks, and maintain optimal nutrition during pregnancy to ensure that heifers are well-grown at calving.
- Monitor body condition score (BCS) and target calving cows and heifers to be in BCS 2.5 - 3.0 at calving. This should not vary by more than 0.5 BCS during pregnancy.
- If a cow fails to conceive or has problems calving, then there is a good chance she will repeat this later in her life.
- When assisting cows at calving, provide adequate time for a cow or heifer to calve prior to interfering, however, monitor closely as early intervention can help prevent a difficult calving and calf deaths.
- Know your limitations and level of experience and be ready to call for veterinary assistance when it’s required.
For further advice contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer, or in NSW your Local Land Services.
